Father & Son Bonding: February 15 - 19

Malvern Primary School kept Karin busy teaching and staying at school for three nights during this week, so the boys decided to strike out on their own to see the sights. Sometimes they would take the train to the CBD (Central Business District), hop on a tourist shuttle bus at the central Flinders Street station and disembark wherever their fancy might lead them. Thus they toured the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Grounds) one morning, visited the Parliament building another morning, took in an art gallery on yet another day, and drove to the Dandenong Mountains together to take a ride on the historic "Puffing Billy" train. In the vicinity they walked through the unusual Ricketts Sanctuary, a sculpture garden encompassing fern gullies and eerie Aboriginal figures. One day they even went to a seven-hour cricket game!

Evan and Rick also decided to do an overnight excursion to the very scenic Great Ocean Road and the neighbouring Grampian Mountains. They set out via car on February 16. They stopped at several nearly deserted spectacular beaches, marvelling at their beauty. This is prime resort area. The famed Great Ocean Road continued inland through rugged mountains, complete with switchbacks, waterfalls, wild koalas and echidna. The latter part of the day featured the magnificent rock formations of the fast-crumbling "Twelve Apostles". Now only eight remain, due to erosion. A full day ended in Warrnambool at a fellow ITF's residence. Early the next day they headed for the stunning scenery of the Grampian Mountains, reminiscent of the Black Hills of South Dakota. The temperature was hot and heaps of kangaroos were resting in the forest shade along the road as they travelled. Once there they visited the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre, offering an excellent introduction to the area's Aboriginal history. Highlights included a steep downhill trek to Mackenzie Falls and the awe-inspiring lookout called "The Balconies".